Fewer deaths on Czech roads as new law comes into force

Rarely does a new law cause so much controversy and yet have so much of an
impact. A new points system for driving offences went into effect at the
weekend with stunning results - the lowest number of deaths on the road
since 1988, and the lowest number of accidents in ten years. That is
clearly good news. But, despite this, the new transport law which has
caused a minor revolution of Czech roads may not survive in its present
form.

Photo: CTK
It was a weekend like no other - the police were out in force and Czech
drivers were on their best behaviour. Thirty-three year old Radim Dvorak
says his morning drive through the Czech capital was a whole new
experience:

"I cannot remember a slower journey though Prague - ever. I kept to
the 50 km speed limit in town and not a single car overtook me. That is
unheard of.
You could tell that they were scared. You break the speed limit by just a
few kilometers and you lose points and get a two thousand crown fine /the
equivalent of almost 100 US dollars/. So you take great care not to let
that happen."

The new points system for driving offences is extremely tough by Czech
standards. Rack up twelve points and you lose your license for a year and
then have to take your driving test all over again. Unlike in the past,
the traffic police can now confiscate your driver's license on the spot
for a serious offense and the fines are extremely steep. All this has made
Czech drivers - generally aggressive and inclined to taking risks - slow
down and exercise caution. The results speak for themselves: 10 lives
spared in one weekend alone - compared to the same period last year. And
the lowest number of accidents in ten years.

Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, photo: CTK
Yet, despite the encouraging statistics, the future of the law is in
question. The centre-right Civic Democrats say it is excessively strict
and are calling for its amendment. And although the Social Democrat-led
government is responsible for introducing it - Social Democrat Prime
Minister Jiri Paroubek himself is now back-pedaling. He agrees with the
Civic Democrats that the law is too strict in that one could end up losing
one's license over a series of trivial offences. In fact Mr. Paroubek went
so far as to say that the fines were too high for Czech salaries, adding
that offenders could be "amnestied" until the respective
correction had been made. At Monday's Cabinet meeting he asked the
transport and interior ministers to consider possible changes:

"There are conflicting views on this law and I have asked the
interior and transport ministers to try and find common ground by next
Monday and then we will take things from there."

The Christian Democrats, whose transport minister Milan Simonovsky put
forward the new law, are arguing that a sudden about-turn would
immediately counteract all the benefits that the new law has brought
about. And they are suggesting that the impact of the new legislation
should be assessed after a longer period of time. As far as minister
Simonovsky is concerned the legislation could in time be made even
stricter, as was the case in France, Austria or Ireland.